Michaels Stores Adds Connect3 to Promotional Software Mix

Irving, TX-based Michaels Stores Inc., an arts and crafts
retailer, signed a site license agreement with Pricer/Intactix to link its advertising,
merchandising, and MIS systems using technology from the space and category
management provider.

The license grants Michaels' corporate headquarters unlimited access to the
Connect3 software solution, which integrates advertising and promotional
information into Michaels' Retek system for forecasting and replenishment and
automates the company's promotional planning system. Financial terms were not
disclosed.

"Adding Connect3 to our current system is a natural transition for us," said
Michaels vice president of marketing and advertising Monty Reese. "We see it
as the software solution that will allow us to streamline our promotional
program, and we are looking to benefit from its unlimited versioning
capabilities--these will save us on production costs and give us greater
flexibility with our target-marketing."

Publicly held since 1984, Michaels Stores Inc. sells arts, crafts, framing,
floral, decorative wall decor, and seasonal merchandise for the hobbyist and
do-it-yourself home decorator. The company owns and operates 452 Michaels as
well as 74 Aaron Brothers stores.

Connect3 Product Manager Bruce Blachford said that "Michaels is tying
merchandising, advertising and MIS together, electronically, to share
promotional information like ad copy and pricing information. That means that
they are gaining accuracy and increasing time available for working and
designing vehicles that promote their mix of products."

Connect3's output options include all types of printed media, the Internet,
kiosks, signs, and multimedia CD-ROM catalogs, among others.